Roof covering



Patented Jan. 14, 1936 I' UNITED STATES PATENT oEFlcE Room` covEanvGHarry T. Nichols, Bridgeport, Conn. Application February 12, 1931,serial No. 515,203

00mm.l (ci. 10s-7) This invention relates to a roof covering,particularly to a covering composed of individual shingles, and has foran object to provide an improved shingle and arrangement of laying themwhich will give a better and more weather-tight covering at less costboth in material and in labor, and will also give a better appearance.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention' consists incertain novel features of construction and arrangement which will bemore fully disclosed in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view 'of a roof covering embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a detailed section substantially on line 4 4 of Fig. 1 on anenlarged scale.

Fig. 5 is a similar section substantiallyl on line 5 5 of Fig. 1. l l

Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the shingle on a still larger scaleshowing its construction.

Fig. 7 is a similar section showing a slightly modiiled construction,and

l Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of a portion of a strip of materialshowing how,the shingles may be manufactured. i

-l 'I'he individual shingles as shown are substantially rectangularin`shape.and may be of any l size found desirable for manufacturingpurposes, handling and the appearance when laid on the roof. Aconvenient size for most purposes is about 12" by 14, but as indicatedthey may of course be oi' other sizes if desired. They may also be madeof various Vmaterials. and either more or less flexible or rigid.

Individual shingles comprise a body portion I0 which is ordinarilypreferably of substantially uniform thickness throughout thelentirelength and width ofthe shingle, and on itsunder side is provided alongitudinal center section Il exoverhanging flange portion Il on eachside.

This longitudinal strip or central under portion Il is preferably-ofsubstantially the same thickness as the -cverhanging flange portion Ilso that the shingles will lie substantially flat when laid on the roof.The shingles are laid substantially as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inhorizontal rows each higher row overlapping `the shingles in the nextlower row to give the properv covering and to expose the proper surfaceto the weather.' Thgdiacent .e shingles in each horizontal row arewidely spaced, but less than the width of the individual shingle anamount approximately corresponding to the widths of the overhangingflange portions I4. Thus in Fig.V 1 in which is shown a portion of aroof beginning at the eaves I5 there is laid on the foundation I6 a rowof full sized shingles a with their flange portions I4 overlappingonehalf shingles or filler members b of substantially the thickness ofthe center body portion II of the shingle. These short llers b are usedonly on the rst or lower row to iill the space between the side edges ofthe portion II of the two shingles and support the iiange portions I4.

Going now to the other rows it will be Seen that any two adjacentshingles c in any horizontal row are spaced from each other laterally ata distance substantially equal to the width of the lower strip portion'lI. In other words they are so spaced that their opposed vertical sideedges I3 are spaced laterally from each other a. distance correspondingto the width of the central under portion II so that when the nexthigher row of shingles d are laid the central under portion or strip IIwill lie in between the vertical edges I3 of the shingles of the nextlower row, in this case the shingles c, and their flange portions Ilwill overlap the vertical edges of the lower shingles and rest on thetop surfaces thereof. Thus as the under strip or portion I I issubstantially the same thickness as the body `portion or the flangeportions Il it will rest on top of the shingles a in the second lowerrow, and will fill and seal substantially the entire space which wouldotherwise be formed between the side edges I3 of the two spaceskshingles c and the lower edge of the shingle d as indicated at I1, andthuseifectively seal this opening to prevent snow or moisture blowing orflowing upwardly under the shingles. With thisv arrangement less lap isrequired for the upper shingles d for instance on the shingles -a of thesecond lower row as will be seen in Fig.

1, this lap being indicated by the dotted line I8 which is the upperedge of the shingles a. `It has been found that this lap need not bemore thanfabout twox or two and one-half inches. It will also be evidentthat with this construction of shingle the central or body portionbetween the edges I3 of the next lower shingles is supported by thelower strip II so that there is no sagging at the central portion of theshingles and the top surface lies substantially flat throughout itslength.

It will be evident that these shingles can be laid very rapidly becausetherspaced side edges Il of the shingles in agrow already laid provideperfect means for locating the next higher shingle, as all that isnecessary is to place the .next higher shingle with thenlower centralstrip I I seating between the edges I3 of the two spaced shingles of thenext lower row, and having the necessary overlap on the upper endthereof, and then by setting only two nails I9 the shinge is properlysecured. Such a shingle and roof have numerous advantages. It will beevident that it may be quickly and readily laid thus greatly reducinglabor cost, and although it is only a single coverage roof it will beevident that the central portions of the shingles which. are the actualroof covering portions are substantially twice the usual thickness.Thus, the shingles lie flatter and hold their shape better, and whenlaid on an old shingle roof the outlines of these old shingles are notas apt to show through as in the thinner shingles.

' These shingles may be made of various materials but a verysatisfactory material is to have the body portion I composed of a stripof felt saturated with asphaltum. The top surface of this strip iscovered with crushed slate of any desired color, and held to the surfaceof the felt by any suitable binder such as tar, The lower strip II mayalso be formed of tar, asphalt ,or other suitable binding material andcrushed slate, stone or other suitable surfacing material to the desiredthickness, and especially its lower surface is covered with a layer ofthe crushed slate 20a, leaving the under surfaces 2l of the overhangingflange portions I4 of the felt uncovered. Thus when the shingles arelaid as above described the asphaltum on the under surfaces 2| will sealitself to the adjacent upper surface of the lower shingles and thus makean effective waterproof joint. It will also be evident that when theshingles are laid, practically the entire surfaces of the asphaltumsaturated felt are enclosed so that evaporation of this asphaltum isreduced to a minimum and thus greatly prolong the life of the shingles.It will also be evident that the central under portion or strip II notonly supports the central body portion of the shingle so that there isno sagging of the central -body portion and the shingle liessubstantially flat, but the edges I2 of this central portion are sealedagainst the edges I3 of the lower shingles, and the under surface of theportion II seals on to the top surface of the shingles a of the secondlower row.

Such a shingle can also be manufactured in large quantities atrelatively low cost. This is illustrated in Fig. 8 wherein is shown astrip 22 of material for the body such as felt saturated with asphaltum.This strip shown is of a width corresponding to the width of twoshingles, but of course can be of the width corresponding to a singleshingle or more than two shingles if desired. In the case of the doublewidth strips as shown there is provided on the under surface thereof twostrips II corresponding to the strips I I of the shingles, and may beprovided by suitable thicknesses of the binding material and crushedsurfacing material. 'I'here strips are the width of the strips II of theshingles and are thus spaced laterally from the side edges 23 and 24 ofthe strip 22 as indicated by I2 in Fig. 8, a distance corresponding tothe width of the overhanging flange portions I4.

These two strips are spaced laterally from each other a distanceequal tothe distance of twice the width of the flange portions I4. Thus afterapplying these strips Il to the strip 22 the strip can be cutlongitudinally along the central line 25 halfway between the two stripsII and also cut transversely as indicated at 26 to thus make theindividual shingles without any waste of material.

As indicated the shingles may be made of different materials. Thusinstead of forming the lower strip II entirely of crushed slate and abinder such as tar this strip may be formed by means of a second stripIIa as shown in Fig. 7 of felt saturated with asphaltum the same as thebody portion I0, and secured to the under side of the body portion by abinder or the asphaltum left on the surfaces of the members by thesaturating operation. Then the lower surface of the strip may be coveredwith crushed slate held thereto by a suitable binder as shown at 2l Fig.7. This strip is the same width as the strip II of the first form, andhas the same function of supporting the body of the shingle and offilling and sealing the space between the edges of two adjacent shinglesin the next lower row. l

,Or if desired the shingle can be made of asbestos similar to theasbestos shingles now on the market. This shingle is usually quite rigidbut would be molded in its center part of a thickness corresponding tothe combined thickness of the body I0 and strip II as indicated at 2BFig. 4, leaving the overhanging side flange portions I4 of substantiallyhalf this thickness and extending for the full length of the shingles.These shingles will be laid the same as the shingles previouslydescribed.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that I have provided ashingle and roof covering which can be manufactured in large quantitiesat relatively low cost, which may be laid rapidly with minimum labor astheir construction indicates the proper place for laying each individualshingle, and all joints are effectively sealed. Also that the bodyportion is supported so that it cannot sag and lies substantially flatgiving a very attractive roof. Further that although there is only asingle coverage as far as the individual shingles are concerned, stillthis coverage is of substantially twice the thickness of the ordinarysingle coverage roof, and thewastage ln overlap is reduced to a minimum.

Throughout the specification I have described the use of crushed slateasv a surfacing material but it will of course be understood that othercrushed stone or any other suitable surfacing material may be used, andtherefore the term crushed slate is used in the specification and claimsin a generic sense as meaning any of ythese materials.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, ywhat I claim is:

1. A roof covering comprising shingles arranged in overlapping rows,each shingle comprising a body portion and a longitudinal centralportion on its underside of substantially the thickness of the bodyportion and spaced at its opposite sides from the edges of the bodyportion, said shingles being laid with adjacent shingles in the same rowwidely, spaced and withv the central portion extending between-thespaced side edges' of the body portions of the shingles on the nextlower row, said central portion on the under side of the body extendingsubstantially the full length of the body and formed as an integral partof the body so that the body and this portion are mounted as a unit bythe single operation of mounting the body.

2. A roof covering comprising shingles composed of a body portion and alongitudinal cenaoaaooa tral portion on the underside of the bodyportion spaced from the edges of the body portion providing longitudinalflange portions on the opposite sides of the shingle of less thicknessthan the central portion of the shingle, said shingles being laid inoverlapping rows with the adjacent shingles of a row widely spaced withthe central portion extending between the opposed side edges of adjacentshingles on the next lower row and with the flange portions overlappingthe vertical side edges of the lower shingles and resting on thetop'surfaces of these shingles, said central portion extending forsubstantially the full length of the shingle to prevent sagging of thecentral portion of the overlapping shingle.

3. A roof covering comprising shingles including a body portion of feltimpregnated with asphalturnl and the top surface covered with crushedslate held thereto by a binder, a longitudinal central portion on theunderside of the body portion of less width than the body portion toprovide longitudinal flange portions at the opposite sides thereofuncovered-on theirl under surfaces so as to seal to the top surfaces ofshingles under them, the shingles being arranged in longitudinaloverlapping rows with the adjacent shingles of the rows widely spacedbut less than the width of the shingle so that the flange portionsoverlap the edges of two adjacent shingles of the lower row `and rest onthe top surfaces of these shingles and the central under portion extendsbetween and fills the space between the edges of these lower shingles.

4. A roof covering comprising substantially rectangular shinglescomprising a body portion of felt saturated with asphaltum and coveredwith crushed slate on its top surface held with a binder, a longitudinalcentral strip on its under surface comprising a binder and crushedslate, said strip being of substantially the thickness of the felt andof less width so that its longitudinal side edges are spaced from theside edges of the felt, leaving longitudinal projecting side portions offelt, the shingles being arranged in horizontal overlapping rows with.adjacent shingles in a row spaced apart a distance substantially thewidth leaving laterally extending portions of the body outwardly of theedges of the central portion, and'the top surface of the body and theunder side of the central portion being covered with crushed slate heldthereto by a binder leaving the under surfaces of the laterallyextending portions uncovered.

6. In a roofing assembly a plurality of shingle elements, eachcomprising a flexible mineral surfaced asphalt coated flbrous layerforming a weather exposed surface and having a lower bituminous layersecured to the under side thereof and positioned inwardly from the edgesrunning vertically of the eaves and extending substantially between theedges running parallel to the eaves, said lower layer having a thicknessthat will substantially reach the underlying surface in assembly whensaid shingle elements are laid with said lower layer positioned betweenthe spaces of adjacent elements of an adjacent course with the underside surfaces of the upper 5 layers of said shingle elements in contactwith, the upper surface of said adjacent elements in said adjacentcourse.

'1. A roof covering comprising a plurality of similar shingles composedof a body portion with vertical side edges and an integral longitudinalcentral reinforcing portion on the under side of the body portion spacedfrom the edges of the body portion, providing longitudinal flangeportions on the opposite sides of the shingle of less thickness than thecentral portion of the shingle, said shingles being laid in overlappingrows with the adjacent shingles of a row widely spaced, with the centralportion extending between the opposed vertical side edges of adjacentshingles on the next lower row and with the flange portions overlappingthe vertical side edges of the lower shingles and 'resting on the topsurfaces of these shingles, said central reinforcing portion extendingfor substantially the full length of the shingle to'support the centralportion thereof.

8. A roof covering comprising shingles including a body layer ofcomposition roofing, cornprising a base of flexible material and a topsurface covered with granulated particles held thereto by a binder, alongitudinal integral central layer secured on the under side of thebody layer and of less width than the body layer to provide longitudinalflange.- portions at the opposite sides thereof uncovered on their undersurfaces so as to engage the top surfaces of shingles under them, theshingles being arranged in longitudinal overlapping rows with theadjacent shingles of the rows widely spaced a distance determined by thewidth of the central layer so that the flange portions of shingles ofone row overlie the edges of two adjacent shingles of the next lower rowand engage the granu- Vthe edges of the exposed layer running betweenthe ridge and eaves of the roof and extending substantially between theedges running in the direction of the eaves, and said shingles beinglaid in overlying rows with the corresponding face of adjacent shinglesexposed to the weather and with the integral under layers of shingles ofone row supporting their exposed layers and spacing the adjacentshingles of the next lower row and projecting between said adjacentlower shingles with the under side surfaces of the exposed layers incontact with the upper surfaces of said adjacent lower shingles of saidlower row.

HARRY T. NICHOLS.

